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Hormones and Hair Loss
by April Maguire
Virtually all of us are going to experience hair thinning or loss at some point in our lives. The question is why. At the most basic level, hair loss occurs when the hair cycle spends more time in the resting phase than in the growth phase, and oftentimes this protracted resting phase means that follicles shut down entirely and stop producing new hairs altogether.
Unfortunately, hair loss has a number of different causes, but experts say that there is a direct link between hormone imbalance and hair cycle imbalance. So what hormones can throw your hair out of whack and, perhaps most importantly, how can you restore your body to normal?
DHT
The most common type of hair loss is male pattern baldness, but don't let the name fool you as women can suffer from it as well. At the center of this condition is a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT for short. A derivative of testosterone, DHT attaches itself to hair follicles and causes the growth phase to become shorter and shorter over time. Eventually, this results in the follicle itself shrinking and leads to hair loss.
Estrogen
Perhaps not surprisingly, estrogen can have a similar effect to testosterone, or DHT. In studies, high levels of estrogen have been shown to negatively impact follicles and impair growth. This is why, for example, women will sometimes experience hair loss after giving birth when their estrogen levels are high.
Thyroid
The thyroid plays a key role in your overall health, and thyroid hormones have an impact on every system in your body. This relationship is especially true for hair follicles, which can be dramatically impacted by a thyroid imbalance. In fact, it doesn't even matter if the thyroid is overactive or underactive, as both types of imbalance can increase the resting phase of hair and cause shedding.
Cortisol
You've heard that stress can cause you to lose your hair, right? Well, cortisol is the hormone responsible. During times of stress, shock or fear, your body produces additional cortisol to increase your sense of awareness. Unfortunately, cortisol can also build up in your follicles and cause hair loss. So if you've recently experienced a stressful event, like the loss of the loved one or being fired from your job, then your body may naturally be producing more of this hair-destroying hormone.
When it comes to hormonal imbalance and hair loss, the key is determining which hormone is causing the problem. Once the culprit has been identified, your doctor can recommend either medication or lifestyle changes that will realign your hormone levels and allow your hair to start growing again.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
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